BATAK CULTURE I

It is important for a Batak to get a son. It is the sons who worship the forefathers. A children woman could hardly show herself in public. It was considered a big shame. If  a man didn’t get a son, he would take another wife. The women were the hardest workers, and still are, amongst the bataks. The Batak culture was influenced by Indian culture in the 2^nd or 3^rd century AD. They borrowed for example writing,elements of religion ,arts, and crafts.Ancestors,plants,animals,and other objects possessed spirits. Communication with these spirits went trough a religious leader. A Batak belived that “someone” owned all land and water. Before starting cultivation a man used to ask for permission by praying. If the planted in the forest with the consent  of the higher power his plants would not be disturbed,for example, by wild boars. Trees were related to the people and permission was needed to cut then down. When Europeans came they dismissed this as animism. Yet another example on how positive traditional values is lost because of arrogance. Three rooster together ,one white,one red,and one black are a symbol of Batak culture. Black stands for leadership,red for knowled,and white for holiness. These three colors are always used in traditional woodcarvings (gorga). Weaving (ulos) and personal accessories. The rooster is often used as an offering and represents a friend that reminds us about time.

The marga (clan) is used by all batak people and plays a very important role. For the Batak Toba it is of extra importance. The rules are still in use and set it’s  very special flavor on the daily life of the batak people. A person cannot marry within this clan. In the old days offenders against the rule were sentenced to death. Between and within clans are special relationship. A hula-hula relation is the relation of a man to the clan of his wife. Any member of that clan is considered and older brother and respect must be shown and given. The Boru relationship is the relation of a man to the clan that marries his sister. Members of that clan must show shown respect to the husnand’s clan. Dongan Tubu relation is between members of the same clan. When a man gets married his family pays for the bridge,who then becomes a member of her husbands clan.

 A village (Huta) has normaly three clans (marga) represented. Through marriages one clan achieve all three different types of relationships with other clans. Only the male line is counted. The governmental  system of the bataks a Bius was a unity consisting of several huta.A huta is a village.A typical Bataks a bius village is often located on a hilltop and is very small, but several villages normally form a cluster of villages. A village consists of two rows of houses along an open long square. On one side area the living quarters and on the opposite side area rice barns. The rice barns,sopo has often disappeared now. A clay wall of bamboo,thorns and stones encircled the village,giving nprotectionif attacked. Trees and vegetables were planted in the back of the houses. Horja bius was the most important village feast. If would give good harvest,happinest and health. It took seven days to prepare before the proper and  celebration started. A buffalo was tied to a post and after gondang music and dancing it was slaughtered. Yhe dutch government banned these horja bius event in 1916, as the celebrations often led to communal quarrels and the killing of the buffalo was cruel. The ban was lifted in 1938